I finally found time to stop by my local Walmart, which is actually half an hour away, but it’s a store that I think is common for everyone, stocks a lot of brands, and offers excellent discounts that other stores often can’t beat. I ended up grabbing a couple of products on a whim, and some products that I had wanted to try, but they were out of stock of some items, so I’ll do a second part to this in the near future. This here will just be a quick review of these items, sort of like a first impressions review.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer
I saw that Huda Kattan recommended this and immediately put it on my list of things to purchase in the US. Thank god, because this concealer is amazing! It’s way better than the Urban Decay 24/7 concealer I usually use and the brush that dispenses the product is really easy to use. You don’t even need another brush! Plus, it’s got SPF which is a major bonus, especially if I’m wearing it with my Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer that also contains SPF, then I’m completely set in terms of sun protection. Just note that you should be a bit careful when using this for the first time, twist the red collar slowly, it won’t look like you are dispensing any product at first, but when the brush starts to look a bit black in color that’s when it’s about to dispense the product. Also be aware of how much you are applying under your eyes, the brush is a bit big so you have to keep that in check. For reference, I have selected the color 320 Honey. I use this everyday now and highly recommend it!
Elf Poreless Primer
I have to tell you, I actually really like Elf products, I have been using their brushes for the past two years and had a lipstick pencil of theirs which unfortunately broke, but was really good in terms of color and pigmentation. But this has a bit of a weird smell (kind of minty?) but once you get past that, it works really well. I have tested this for the past several days while traveling around Boston where it has been hot and even humid at times and my makeup stays completely in place. I recommend you use just a bit, squirt onto the back of your hand and use your foundation brush to apply this, then use that same brush to apply your foundation. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like this helps increase its staying power. Definitely use this if you feel like your makeup comes off easily in the humidity or hot climates, it’s a steal at only $6!
Alberto VO5 Hot Oil Treatment
I’ve actually never used a hot oil treatment before, but it’s basically the same concept as using warmed up coconut oil on your hair. The only difference is that with coconut oil you leave it in your hair for say half an hour or over night, and with this you just put it in your hair and leave it for one minute before washing it out with shampoo. I just heated up a mug of water, and stuck this in there for about a minute or two while I was in the shower, then opened it up and covered my scalp with it. I made sure to really massage this in, so beware those of you with oily scalps this may not be the product for you. It becomes a bit soapy when you massage it, but that is completely normal. This definitely made my hair softer, but I think it would be more useful if used consistently over a period of time. I still plan on using this once a week since I think it’s a bit easier to use than coconut oil which you have to keep overnight, or at least a couple of hours.
Queen Helene Cholesterol Conditioner (not pictured because I forgot)
While everyone, including me, loves the Queen Helene green face mask, I had never thought to try their other products. So when my mom picked up this conditioner saying that her stylist had used this on her hair at the salon recently, I discounted it, thinking nothing good could come out of such an ugly bottle. But! I finally tried this out, and decided to use it two different ways. First, I didn’t follow all the instructions and just applied it to my hair and kept it in for two hours. My hair came out a bit softer than before, but I attributed that to the apple cider vinegar I was using (another post, another time). So basically, a failed experiment. The next time I used this, I again put it in my hair for an hour, and followed the instructions to apply heat. This is definitely a great product for those of you who think your hair feels like straw, maybe due to heat damage. I suggest using it a couple times a week, as the instructions suggest for best results, but in a rush you could use it without heat.
Yes to Carrots Normal to Dry Hair Shampoo
I have been wanting to try this brand out for AGES, but, like every other brand it’s not available in India. The brand’s products are at least 95% natural which is great for me since I love organic products, and honestly, who doesn’t? I decided to just grab the shampoo since I already had the BBlunt, Pantene, and Aussie conditioners at home. No need to clutter the shower! A bit about my hair, it becomes frizzy in humid climates (INDIA I’m looking at you), but in Boston it’s frizz-free if I wash at night and sleep on it. I have medium-thick hair, but my ends are damaged from the bad quality water in India. The color and consistency of this shampoo are a bit abnormal, but I like it a lot better than the Organix shampoos I have been loyal to for the past couple years. My hair tends to be on the greasier side, but that’s also a byproduct of succumbing to the grease and washing nearly every day. This shampoo kind of helped tame that, so much so that I haven’t washed my hair in about 3 days! Definitely recommend this even for those with greasy hair, not just normal and dry hair.
Elf Powder Compact
Now, I usually don’t use powder compacts because they feel a bit old school to me, but I thought I would try out a powder to use to set my foundation, especially with this heat, my makeup tends to just come off in seconds, or so it feels. But this! This is an amazing compact that keeps everything matte and stops me from looking like a shiny little otter (as cute as that sounds, not a cute look for a human)! I apply this after my foundation and concealer, but before my blush, and I just use a kabuki brush or a blush brush to sort of tap this in, no sweeping motions involved. This is a complete steal at only $2 and there’s not weird smell like you get with a lot of other compacts. Definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a finishing powder just to try out.
Ribbons and Bows xoxo 